How does bankruptcy affect my collection defense rights?

When considering collection defense law in the state of Maryland, if an individual faces financial difficulty and files for bankruptcy, it can affect their rights in relation to collection defense. Bankruptcy creates an ‘automatic stay’ which prohibits creditors from taking any action to collect a debt, including contacting the debtor for payment. This can impact the debtor’s ability to defend themselves in a decision to deny collection against them as the creditors cannot contact the debtor for further action. Any collection lawsuits that have been initiated against the debtor will also be put on hold until the bankruptcy proceedings have concluded. This can make it difficult to review the evidence and build a strong defense during the collection defense process. Bankruptcy may also involve the collection agency agreeing to a settlement that relieves the debtor of their obligations to pay back the debt or have it forgiven completely. After this, any attempts by the collection agency to collect the debt in any way could be seen as violating the rules of the settlement. In summary, bankruptcy can have an effect on a debtor’s collection defense rights due to the automatic stay and the settlement agreements that may be put in place. Although it can be difficult to pursue a collection defense after filing for bankruptcy, a debtor is still protected by the law and can challenge the collection of a debt if they believe it is incorrect.

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